Red Cross pens deal with IBM for system upgrade

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has penned a deal with IBM Australia to assist in the upgrade of its nationwide blood management system (NBMS).

The system, based on eProgesa, provides a chain-type infrastructure for the management of blood donation and the manufacture, testing, inventory and distribution of blood products such as red cells, platelets and plasma.

Under the contract, IBM will act as an implementation support partner in the upgrade of eProgesa, which is designed to meet the requirements of blood service and transfusion centres. It manages the safety, traceability and security of blood and blood-related products and associated information from the time leading up to donation through to the distribution to hospitals.

Commenting on the deal, Australian Red Cross Blood Service chief executive, Jennifer Williams, said IBM was providing support and advice around the upgrade of the system and noted the company won the “competitive” tender with its industry knowledge, previous work with the Red Cross and its technical team.

“Upgrading the eProgesa software is essential for maintaining the efficient and effective operation of blood donation and blood product supply services for Australians,” said Williams in a statement.

IBM will ensure the NBMS upgrade adheres to stringent local and international compliance standards, including those of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia’s regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices.

Additionally, the software company will provide the organisation with resources and methodologies for database and project management, co-ordination and testing.

“This is the first software application upgrade on a nationwide scale to be undertaken by the Blood Service,” associate partner and lead for the Victorian public sector, IBM, Anne Cheetham said in a statement.

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